The city of Landmoor hunkered on a wide flat hill overlooking the Shoreland moors. It was an odd-looking hill, a little lopsided on the eastern slant, with teeth-like rows of stone jutting between splotches of green sedge. The fortress-city occupied the summit from end to end, its tall, ridged walls interspersed with dominating watch towers, bastions, and two gatehouses. From the center of town rose the sprawling governor’s palace, square and proud, higher than any of the uneven walls. Yet, despite the slouching look which he inwardly admired, Allavin Devers knew that Landmoor was a defensible and well-built keep, one of the strongest in the Kingdom of Dos-Aralon and one of the most remote. He stood just within the fringes of the Shadows Wood, staring across the low hills towards the heights where the city perched. A placid river snaked around the western bounds of the hill, wandering this way and that. A few narrow stone bridges spanned it, joining with the single road leading north to the woods. The lazy road came up the side of the hill before straightening out and reaching the gatehouse. It looked the same on the other side too; he had seen it a hundred times.
Yet it was the first time Allavin had ever known of an enemy army being so close to it unaware. The watchmen patrolling the heights couldn’t see the gathering masses of soldiers and horsemen within the depths of the Shadows Wood. Allavin shook his head in disgust and scratched his beard. The army had been roaming the woods for days now, mashing their tracks and clearing out any witnesses with their dangerous cavalry. It did well to hide their numbers as they converged on the king’s road. The city could withstand a formidable siege. But would the king of Dos-Aralon be able to send an army down soon enough to lift it? Fuming, he shook his head again. He doubted it. Not unless they learned about it first. He’d been tracking the army for several days now, and he knew his trade better than the Bandit Rebellion scouts. But how quickly could he get the news to the king?
Waiting within the protective screen of trees, Allavin sensed the movement more than heard it. Looking over his shoulder, he saw the Shae approaching him. They would have been able to sneak up on any man on either side of the war, but Allavin knew the Shae. He envied how well they blended in with the marsh surrounding Landmoor. The browns and greens of their field garb fit the shadows and scrub of the woods. Their features were hardly remarkable, if you knew them as well as he did. Most of his kind thought of the Shae as a freakish, cunning race. Most were disturbed by the fact that they all had pale skin that burned easily in the sun and light-colored hair. Their eyes were beautiful, but only certain colors – green, blue, and gray. He’d seen a few with lavender eyes over the years, but those were rare. They spoke a different language among themselves, an ancient language, with words hauntingly familiar and twisted with multiple meanings. It took a while to pick up all the nuances. Maybe that was another reason why humans distrusted the Shae so much.
But Allavin Devers preferred their company. He smiled in greeting as the four Shae scouts gathered around him.
“It’s only a matter of days now before they are in position to strike,” Allavin said in the tongue of the Shae. “The Rebellion’s army is big enough to take the city and control the moors. It’ll be a nasty fight rooting them out of here.”
“How many soldiers do they have?” Tiryn asked. He was the leader of this group of Shae scouts and had stunning blue eyes. Allavin had known him for years.
“From what I’ve seen, it’s the entire Shoreland army. Several thousand foot soldiers at least. And they have the Kiran Thall with their horses waylaying wagons and teams from both sides of the king’s road. And not simple hit and run raids like they normally do, they’re spreading out far, watching for trouble from the north. I’m sure the garrison at the castle is wondering why the traffic from Castun has all but halted. What have you seen?”
“The same as you. The Bandits have gathered an army here. Another one is starting to gather itself in the west. The Kiran Thall are ruthless, my friend. They have no regard for Life magic. They offend us.”
Allavin nodded. “They do indeed. I need to get north to warn my king. Where are your alerion tethered?”
“Nearby. They hate the moors. We can’t stay long.”
“Well, our dukes prefer it when the Bandits gather together in one place. Makes them easier to come down and squash.” He clucked his tongue. “Not this time though. It will be an agony to re-capture Landmoor. Keep watch for me, Tiryn. I’ll need you and your scouts watching from the skies until I make it back.”
“There is something else,” Tiryn said with concern. “We came across it on our journey over here. I think you should see it. The Bandits have soldiers clearing out part of the forest.”